ATARAXIA • BELLAMY BLAKE

[ 1 4 ]

"Please, you have to let me through!" pleaded Freya with the guard blocking her way. In a minute, it would all be over. She couldn't miss her only chance to say goodbye. She just couldn't.

"Let her through," said the voice of Chancellor Jaha, and soon after the guard stepped out of the way and let Freya inside the room.

She rushed past Bellamy and towards Aurora, seizing her into a hug. Never in her life had she hugged someone tighter than in that moment. Freya sniffled loudly, the tears still clouding her vision despite how many were already trickling down her cheeks.

"Sweet girl," sighed Aurora. "Don't cry."

"How can I not?" Freya managed to croak out.

"That's enough," said a guard. He walked over to break the two apart, but Jaha stopped him.

"Let them have their moment, Shumway."

Freya's shaking arms squeezed Aurora even tighter. "Thank you," she squeaked. "For being the mother I never got to have."

"Oh, honey," said Aurora. Freya could hear the tears in her voice as she spoke. "It was my pleasure."

Hearing a sniffle from behind her, Freya knew it had been Bellamy. He and Aurora had said their goodbyes only a minute prior. They had been ready to float her when Freya had come running.

"Forgive him," whispered Aurora then.

Freya forced back a sob at the mention. "I can't," she cried, shaking her head against Auroras shoulder.

"He's going to need you now more than ever." Freya felt a few tears hit her shoulder, which only made it harder to keep her own emotions at bay. "Forgive him. If not now, then promise you will in the future...Promise me."

Aurora pulled away reluctantly. She looked Freya's face over with the saddest of smiles and, with one hand, reached for the necklace around the girl's neck, kneading the emerald between her fingers. She sent her a hopeful look.

The only thing Freya could do was nod. She had no words left. None.

"It's time," said Jaha.

Aurora let go of the necklace and rested a hand on Freya's wet week, caressing it once before hurrying over to Bellamy to give him one last hug as well, planting a kiss on his cheek. He looked a mess, red-eyed and tear stained. Never had Freya seen him in such a state.

Aurora grabbed his hand before pulling him over towards Freya and taking her hand in her other. Bellamy reached for Freya's hand, and although she really hadn't wanted him to, she let him take it.

Aurora looked between the two. "I love you," she said, her voice breaking. When Bellamy and Freya both said it back at the same time, Aurora smiled somberly. "Tell Octavia that I'm sorry, will you? And that I love her so very much. She was worth every single moment."

Bellamy nodded while Freya looked at the floor. Aurora offered their hands one final squeeze before letting go. Freya's hands tingled as she tried to hang on to the feeling of Auroras hand in hers, while watching the woman walk towards the airlock. She stepped inside and the doors closed. A short moment of pure silence passed. Aurora smiled ever so weakly from behind the glass, her eyes roaming Freya and Bellamy's faces as if trying to memorize them, no fear apparent on her own.